Throughout elementary and middle school I was shy. I could make friends if I tried hard enough, but after a problem I had with a few girls at my school, I decided that riding solo might not be the worst idea. Sure, I had friends. There were kids that I played with on the playground in elementary school, and friends that I had in middle school that I hung out with on few occasions, but I was never the one to latch on to friends and make close connections. I had one close friend through the first eight years of school. She is still my best friend to this day and I'm thankful for her always. Other than her, though, I'm not even sure what a best friend is supposed to be like.

In high school I made the mistake of choosing boys over close girl friends. I thought that I was making the right decision by avoiding friendships because I was avoiding drama that came with most girls I knew. But what I was really missing out on was a bond with another person that I could share and tell everything to. I never thought I had a problem with being a lone wolf, until one day, as senior year was coming to a close, I looked back at the way I carried out my school career and I felt regret. I felt like I had missed out on something. Like I had done something wrong.

Now, as I look back at my 13 years of schooling, I'm okay with what happened. Everyone has things that they regret in life and that is one of my biggest ones. However, I have learned from that and today I carry myself a different way.

I have learned to listen to the people I meet. When a new person is introduced into my life, I am not too quick to judge. As the cliche saying runs through my mind, "don't judge a book by it's cover", I have to admit, it's right. You never know someones story and you can't be judgmental of someone you don't know. Take the time to really listen and understand a person before you decide if they are "BFF material."

I have learned not to take the people I care about for granted. I call and text them frequently to check up, even just to say hi, just to make sure they know that I care and I'm always here for them. I make sure to put forth the effort to hangout with them on any occasion presented and to enjoy the time I spend with them, no matter how long or short the visit is.

I have learned to be more selfless with people. It's not always all about you. When you have other people that you care about in your life, you need to take the time to check in on them and see how they are doing. Sometimes you may even have to make a few sacrifices for the people you love.

Overall, I have learned to just be open to things and I have become a new and a better person for it. I have strong relationships with my friends now, and even though I still have a handful of people I am close with, I cherish the people close to me and do my best to be the best friend I can be.